Last removing machine



Feb. 23, 1965 s. HAWKES LAST REMOVING momma 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March '7, 1963 Feb. 23, 1965 s. HAWKES 3,170,177

LAST REMOVING MACHINE Filed March '7, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 23, 1965 s. HAWKES 3,170,177

LAST REMOVING MACHINE Filed March 7, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .LAST REMovnwG MACHINE i Sidney I-Iawkes, Rushden, England, assignor to Fre Hawlres (NY. Engineers) Limited,'Rushden, England,

a British company I Filed Mar. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 263,643 Claims priority, applicationGreat Britain, Mar. 31, 1962, 12,487/62 9 Claims. (Cl. 1215.1)

This. application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application 'Serial No 158,181, filed December 11, 1961, and now Patent No. 3,091,787. j

This invention is concernedwith last removing ma chines such as are used in the boot and shoe industry for separating a fabricated or partially-fabricated shoe (or similar item of footwear) from a last on which it has been made. All such articles will, for convenience, here inafter in this specification be assumedcomprehended in the term shoe.

Machines of this character are provided with an 'upstanding jack pin on, which the last, carrying the fabricated shoe, is mounted with the pin entering-the hole provided in the crown faces of lasts for support in this way during 'the' actual manufacture of the shoe thereon. The

' machines for this purpose also include a thrust device (which can take various forms) which is then arranged to be operated to engage the counter of the shoe and to lift it so that the shoe (which is, of course, sole upwards 'in this condition) willbe pushed or-slipped off the last.

An object of the present invention is a machine of the i kind stated which catersfor an improved shoe-slipping operation.

A further object is a machine in which pieces of footwearof different sizes, and sometimes of different "heel contour, can be more efiiciently, more quickly and often less harshly dealt with by controlling the "action of-the stripping device.

The machinej'which forms the subject of the pr esent' invention comprises a' last support, astripper device, means to bring about a primary relative movement between the last support and stripper device so that the latter will be applied under pressure against a shoe mounted onthe t Thusjwhere, as is mostTu'sual', theslipping'is performed byiapplying aforWard stroketo thestr'ipper device,':the arrangement of: the present'inventioncan be. devised sothat the l'ength of this SlI'OkQ'CaIl be quickly varied, with infinite graduation, to the figurejudged" from experience q to be optimum in dislodging the shoe; from the last in regard to such 'facto'r's'as' care of the shoe and. rapidity of" :oper'atiori" J The length of'theshoe-slipping stroke-canbe controlled in various' ways, and averysimplemethod is attained "by allowing for-screw-threaded adjustment of alstoponthe frame or other 'fixed part of the machineand/or a simii lar adjustment of an abutment on themoving'part of the.

stripper 'device which cooperates'iwith thiststop; This 7 moving part may, for instance,'bea ram-carrying the stripper assembly and movable by hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical impulsion. M j

In one form, the stop will conveniently be screw thread ed 'on a fixed-'sleeve-around the-ram and cooperate with an abutment collar on this ram. The stop may be in' the form. ofa nut whichhasinternalthreading mating with external threading on the sleeve, this nut also having a head in the for'mof a disc or wheelWhich is accessible I United States, Pimento.

FIGURE 1 is a wings 7 on which are pivoted corresponding lugs 8 on' "last supporL-la device which yields under. the directme-g- 'chanical thrust of this "pressure to initiatea secondary relative movement bet'ween the last support 'andstripper device whereby the shoe'is slipped. from thelast, and means providing a manually-.adjustablefandvariableset "ting of the length of saidsecondary relative movement.

ly' indicatedlat 20 in'FIGURE 4. H 5 'Mounted between the sidewalls ofjthemain frame 1 ingv column 24 with a "a jack pin 26.

from the exterior of the'casing, e.g. through an opening in the latter, so that it canibe turned by'the hand of an operator to adjust its position longitudinally, of the mm.

A form of last-removing machine equipped in accord; J ance with this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:, p p

perspective illustration of the complete machine,

" FIGURE 2 is a side view of the same with a vertical section through the main frame housing,

FIGURE 3 is an enlargedside elevation of the head assembly of the ma'chine,', with parts in vertical section, ,and@- 9 FIGURE 4 is a diagrammaticillustrationof the strip-' per head assembly in association with the pneumat'c opcrating means of the machine.

The machine illustrated comprises a hollow main frame 1 which serves to house 'the operating parts of the machine and is shouldered at its upper part intoa rear shelfforming portion 2 having a boss Sthrough which passes a plunger ram 4 carrying the stripper head assembly'of the machine. 'The machine, in use, will be served by an attendant standing at the front side seen in the perspective view in FIGURE 1. g g p i V This head assembly comprises a block 5 which is clamped 0n=ram 4 by screws 6 and has a pair of lateral a stripper pad supporting plate 9. As will be observed from thedrawings, this plate is arranged at an inclination to the vertical ram 4, and this inclination can be varied, to'suit particular requirements, a set screw 10 threaded in the upper part of the plate 9 and bearing against block 5, and a lower adjusting screw 11 which is threaded into a forward extension piece ofvtheblock 5 and has its head bearing against the lower margin of plate 9.

The latter has lateral ears12 serving to'carry'the pivot V 13 of a stripper pad holder 14 which overlies the from; face of support plate 9 and isjnormally spaced therefromby-compression springs 15." The outermost position-of v holder 14 is determined by a pin 52"on, the holder,1which engages iii a slot-in a link 53 on plate 9. Insert ed into" i this holder14,'and' clamped thereto" by side'lcheeks 51, is a rubber stripper pad l fi'having a roundediront' sur face.

belowa slot 21, extending across the widthof the' latter at its front shouldered part, is a' shaft'22 whichh'as'ro-l tatable -thereonia casting 23 .which include'si'an upstand Another 'airicylinde'rfi'l isrnountedona ste u 38 on the aforesaid base oft-he mainlframc 1, an'd*the shoe; removing ram 4,is coupled toth'episton of thiscylinder p x A treadle;39,forl initiating thevaiiomihovements armor Patented Feb, as, 1965 It is to be noted also that :the 'lholderjl li carries a screwedstud '17 of adjustable flengthfatgon 'lowr side f and this cooperates with the :head 18 of a switch-operating plunger :in a micrfoswitch ca sing l9. 'Thdarrang'e i me'ntis thata pred'eterr'nined swingof "theholder "14fwillff 4 operate the icroswitch, which hasbeendiagrammatical post 25 at its upper-end supporting,-

which occur when a shoe is to be removed, is cast in one piece with an arm 33 which is pivotally supported by a pair of spaced lugs 48 on spindle 32. At its rear end, arm 33 cooperates with the plunger 49 of a valve 40 controlling the air supply to cylinder 34 (see below).

i The controls for the machine are diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 4, and it is to be noted that when the-treadle 39 is depressed, the resultant movement of plunger 49 shifts over the valve member in valve 40 and so allowsair to passfrom a main air line 41 to the lower end of cylinder 34and the piston rod 35 to be raised. Included in this line is an adjustable restrictor valve indicated at 50.

The line41 has a branch 42 incorporating a slide valve 43 which is normally closed and is operable by a solenoid in a casing '44. The solenoid windings are connected to the supply mains at 51 via the microswitch 20 ofthe head assembly, and the arrangement is that when the solenoid 44 is energised by closure of switch 20, it retracts the valve member in 43 and so opens the branch 42 to the underside of the piston in the air cylinder 37 to produce an upward stroke of ram 4.

A normal operation of the machine therefor proceeds as follows.

The operator in front of the machine places a last 45, carrying a shoe 46 to be slipped, sole-uppermost on the jack pin 26. On depression of the treadle 39, the piston 35 of air cylinder 34 is operated and the arm 30 swings upwards to asmall extent. The pin roller 28, bearing on the cam edge of slot 29, is consequently moved forwards a small amount and the post 24 accordingly rocked through a small angle to produce a primary relative movement between the post 24 and the pad, i.e. bring the counter 47 of the shoe 46 against the pad 16, i.e. into the position indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 2, and then with a continuing pressure on this pad until the resistance of compression springs is overcome and' the microswitch is closed. By virtue of the substantial length of arm and the large curvature and vertical disposition of the cam edge 29, the movement of the counter 47 is small but continuous, and it is possible to make the pressure-response of the microswitch very sensitive;

It .willbe noted that the 'partof the counter 47 against which thepad 16 engages at this time can be adjusted by appropriate setting of screws-10 and 11, if so desired, and that in any event the degree of pressure between the shoe and theQpadlG, required to operate switch 20, can be varied by choice of appropriate loading of springs 15 and/or by an adjustment of the length of the stud 17, so as to provide? for optimum, conditions for shoeengagement and subsequent removal.

This removal is, in fact, performed in response to closure of switch-2t inasmuch that, as explained above, an electric. current passes through the microswitch to operate the solenoid actuated valve 43 so as to send an air impulse to cylinder'37 and cause an upthrustfof ram 4 4 ferent settings of the length of ram stroke produced by rotation of disc 55.

The 'ram 4 also has an abutment collar 57 pinned thereto for cooperation with the lower edge of the stop nut 54 to determine the upper limit of the ram stroke adjustable by this nut.

' It will also be noted that the collar 57 has an apertured arm 58 which is slidable along a guide rod 59 depending from the shelf 2, and that it is also provided with a screw 60 forming an anchorage for one end of a tension spring 61 which is adapted to return the ram 3 to its starting position on collapse of the peneumatic cylinder 37 on release of treadle 39 by the operator.

In the arrangement described above his assumed that the operating unit is a single acting cylinder with a spring return, but a double-acting cylinder could instead be used. In instances where a return spring is used this could be a compression spring in the cylinder or fitted to the ram externally of the cylinder, instead of the external tension spring actually illustrated.

I claim: 1

1. A last removing machine comprising a last support, a stripper device, means to bring about a primary relative movement between the last support and'stripper device so that the latter will be applied under pressure against a shoe mounted on the last support, means for yielding under the direct mechanical thrust of this pressure to initiate a secondary relative movement between the last support and stripper device whereby the shoe is slipped from the last, and means providing for a manuallyadjustable variable setting of the length of said secondary relative movement.

2. A last removing machine comprising a last support, a stripper device normally parted from said last support and a lasted shoe thereon, pneumatically-operated means for producing relative closing movement between the last support and stripper device, means responsive to a predetermined contact pressure between the stripper device and a lasted shoe on the last support to provoke a movement of this stripper device transverse to the direction of said closing movement to slip the shoe from the last, stop means along the path of transverse movement of; said stripper device, and means accessible from the exterior of the machine for adjusting theposition of said stop means.

3. A last removing machine comprising a frame, a last support movably mounted on said frame, a stripper device movably mounted on said frame, means operable to move, said last support towards said stripper device,

and a lifting of the complete head assembly, including the padler The. post 24 and last 45 remain stationary (since air continuesto be'applied to cylinder 34), so that g the 'shoe 46 is slipped smoothly off the last witha roll ing action. I p Now'as has been made clea rin the foregoing, it-is an object of 'thepresent invention to be a le'to provide for.

a'variable control of the length of stroke of the pad 15, and to this endin the exampleillustrated the boss S atthe upper part of the casing l is formed with sleeve 53' surrounding the ram 4, and depending into the casing.

T he lower endof this sleeve is externally threadedto ree ceive a correspondingnut 54 having a diseSS atits upper end forming a hand wheel. As will" be'observed this disc projects out throughflan aperture .or window 56 infthe wallfofrthe. casing, so as tobe accessible from-the exterior, and can be marked to cooperate with a fixed inarkf ing on the exterio rlof the casing so as to identify the difthereby'to apply a lasted shoeon said last support against said stripper device, means responsive topredetermined contact pressure between the lasted shoe and stripper device to move said stripper devicerelatively to said. frame 1 and said last'sup'port, and variable means for adjusting the last-mentioned movement of said stripper device.

. 4. A last removingmachine comprising a frame,'a last I support on said frame, a stripperdevice on said frame and normally partedi from said last support, closing means for producing relative movement in a closing direction between thelast supportand the stripper device, stripper operating means for producing a shoe-slipping movementof'said stripper device in'a direction transverse to said closing direction, an adjustable stop on said frame terminating. the shoe-slippingtmovement of said stripper device, and means responsive to predetermined pressure application between said last support and stripper device to operate said stripper operating means.

ment in a closing direction between the last support and the stripper device, stripper operating means for producing a shoe-slipping movement of said stripper device in a direction transverse to said closing direction, manually adjustable variablemeans to determine said shoe-slipping movement of said stripper device, and means responsive to a predetermined yielding of said yieidable part of the stripper device to trigger said stripper operating means.

6. A last removing machine comprising a frame, a last support pivotable on said frame, a stripper device on said frame and normally parted from said last support, fluid-operated means, including a cam transmission, for producing relative movement in a closing direction between the last support and the stripper device, stripper operating means for producing a shoe-slipping movement of said stripper device in a direction transverse to said closing direction, means responsive to predetermined contact pressure between said stripper device and a shoe on said last support to operate said stripper operating means, and manually-settable stop means to adjust the length of stroke of said stripper device in said transverse direction.

7. A last removing machine comprising a frame, a last support pivotable on said frame, a stripper device on said frame and normally parted from said last support, and a pneumatic operating system which comprises a first air cylinder to pivot the last support and cause a lasted shoe on said support to be closed against the stripper device,

a second air cylinder to move the stripper device to slip the shoe from the last, adjustable stop means to control the length of shoe-slipping movement of said stripper device, a mechanically-operable valve controlling the air supply to said first cylinder, and a solenoid valve operable V in response to a predetermined pressure between the shoe and stripper device to open the air supply to said second air cylinder.

8. A last removing machine as claimed in claim 4, further including a fixed sleeve on said frame, screw threaded means mounting the stop on said fixed sleeve, a reciprocable member passing through said sleeve, and means mounting the stripper device on said reciprooable member, said member having an abutment member cooperating with said stop. y

9. A last removing machine as claimed in claim 8 in which the stop is a nut threaded on said sleeve, said machine further including means mounting a largediameter wheel on said nut and projecting through an opening in said frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/34 Grune 1215.1 2,182,832 12/39 Whelton 1215.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 735,316 8/55 Great Britain. 1

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner. 

1. A LAST REMOVING MACHINE COMPRISING A LAST SUPPORT, A STRIPPER DEVICE, MEANS TO BRING ABOUT A PRIMARY RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE LAST SUPPORT AND STRIPPER DEVICE SO THAT THE LATTER WILL BE APPLIED UNDER PRESSURE AGAINST A SHOE MOUNTED ON THE LAST SUPPORT, MEANS FOR YIELDING UNDER THE DIRECT MECHANICAL THRUST OF THIS PRESSURE TO INITIATE A SECONDARY RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE LAST SUPPORT AND STRIPPER DEVICE WHEREBY THE SHOE IS SLIPPED FROM THE LAST, AND MEANS PROVIDING FOR A MANUALLY- 